An Accrington secondary school where ”pupils are happy" received a glowing Ofsted report following its conversion to an academy.

The Hollins was inspected by Ofsted on October 8 and 9 and, under the new Ofsted guidelines, is deemed to be an effective provider which had "maintained their high standards."

Having achieved a ‘good’ rating at the previous inspection, before switching to an academy in 2022, the school has continued to maintain its high expectations in behaviour and achievement.

Inspectors said: “Pupils are polite, kind and considerate. They make a positive contribution to the calm and respectful atmosphere that exists at the school.

“Pupils respond well to the high expectations that the school has of their conduct and achievement.

“Most pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well. Pupils are happy.”

The report praised the impressive range of activities, which contribute to the development of pupils’ interests, including musical productions, sports, art and music clubs.

They were also praised for access to trips and experiences that deepened their understanding of the subjects being studied.

These included visits to the theatre and places of worship as well as opportunities to support members of the local community.

Additionally, the delivery of a broad and balanced curriculum was praised and the ability to respond skilfully to the individual needs of pupils that join the school, with most children well prepared for each stage of their education.

Inspectors added: “Staff make regular checks on what pupils know and remember. Most staff use this information well to address the gaps and misconceptions that pupils may have about their learning.

“At times, some pupils do not receive the help that they need to address these misunderstandings. This means that these pupils move on to new learning before they are ready.”

Staff were considered to have strong subject knowledge and designed activities to help pupils learn the curriculum well, and the school supports them to help deliver the subjects they teach.

However, staff did not prioritise the key vocabulary that pupils should use and when this happens pupils do not have the tools they need to communicate accurately.

Inspectors added: “Staff work with precision to help pupils to become confident and fluent readers. The school swiftly identifies pupils’ reading needs as soon as they start at the school in Year 7.

“It ensures that pupils catch up quickly with the gaps that they may have in their phonics knowledge.

“Pupils recall the themes from the books that they read. This helps them to develop their wider understanding of the world.”

They were considered to have addressed issues with the number of pupils who were persistently absent and helped students manage their behaviour effectively.